The Minnesota Timberwolves (24-21) overpowered the Denver Nuggets (28-17) in the second half and cruised to a 133-104 blowout on January 26.
Minnesota Timberwolves Top Performers:
Rudy Gobert 14 PTS | 14 REB | 4 STL | 50.3 FPS
Gobert has been an efficient scorer and decent rebounder this month, though he just recorded his fourth double-double. He has slowed down in his last two games because of an ankle sprain, but he still provided strong numbers on defense, recording 3+ stocks in three straight games.
Julius Randle 21 PTS | 7 REB | 7 AST | 46.9 FPS
Randle continues to struggle on offense, but he’s becoming a more well-rounded player, making significant contributions in rebounds and assists, with clear improvement in his defensive production.
Anthony Edwards 34 PTS | 3-8 3PT | 9 AST | 45.7 FPS
ANT has shaken off an illness and sustained his explosive form, with nine games of 28+ points and six games with 7+ assists this month. He’s also been a lights-out shooter, hitting three or more threes in ten of thirteen games, and has become the franchise’s all-time leader in made three-pointers. His turnovers have also seen a decline lately but it coincided with a drop in his defensive productions.
Jaden McDaniels 13 PTS | 8 REB | 4 AST | 34.6 FPS
McDaniels has been a consistent performer in recent games. He’s reached double-digit points in seven out of eight games, excelled in both rebounding and defense, while also showing improvement on offense.
Naz Reid 13 PTS | 2 STL | 2 BLK | 31.4 FPS
Reid’s offensive usage has dipped in recent games, along with his scoring and three-point production. But he remains a valuable bench contributor, recording stocks and scoring in double digits in all but one game this month. He’s likely to see more offensive opportunities next week, with the team’s busy schedule.
Denver Nuggets Top Performers:
Nikola Jokic 20 PTS | 9-13 FG | 11 AST | 33.1 FPS
Jokic has been unstoppable this season, ranking third in scoring, third in rebounds, second in assists, and second in three-point percentage. He’s taken his dominance to another level this month, flirting with a triple-double in nearly every game and recently achieving the feat in five consecutive games before the fourth quarter. But his impact mostly fell flat in this contest, recording zero stocks, lackluster rebounds, and massive turnovers.
Jamal Murray 25 PTS | 10-16 FG | 5 AST | 32.9 FPS
Murray has battled through lingering injuries but continues to be a consistent scoring threat, reaching 22+ points four times and narrowly missing twice in his last seven games. He’s also showing encouraging numbers in assists and shooting percentages, though his performance in other areas has been hit-or-miss.
Russell Westbrook 13 PTS | 6 REB | 2 STL | 28.2 FPS
Russ has been shooting well, but his low shot volume has resulted in four games with 13 or fewer points in his last five outings. His assist numbers have been inconsistent as well, but he’s maintained his rebounding and steal production.
Aaron Gordon 13 PTS | 3 REB | 2 STL | 23.6 FPS
Gordon’s shooting percentage has been good, but his calf is still giving him problems and it might take a while for him to put up consistent numbers.
Peyton Watson 2 PTS | 3 AST | 3 BLK | 22.1 FPS
Watson’s minutes have declined since Gordon returned, but he continues to be a defensive threat with 3.0 stocks in his last five games.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Michael Porter Jr. 11 PTS | 3-6 3PT | 2 AST
MPJ has been a decent scorer and rebounder in his last four games. But he had a rough game today and failed to make an impact in other areas.
